Cross brace for stiffening a water cross in a fuel assembly

Patent · Tue Apr 21 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6556195

Lui, C K

This patent describes a fuel assembly of elongated fuel rods disposed in side-by-side relationship so as to form any array of spaced fuel rods. An outer tubular flow channel surrounds the fuel rods so as to direct flow of coolant/moderator fluid along the fuel rods. And a hollow water cross extends through the outer flow channel and has hollow panels which extend radially from a central axis of the water cross and defines an open inner flow channel for subcooled moderator fluid flow through the fuel assembly. The panels of the water cross are interconnected at their outer ends with angularly displaced portions of the tubular outer flow channel so as to divide the array of fuel rods into subgroups and are interconnected with one another at their inner ends so as to define a central channel portion which extends the axial length of the water cross, the improvement which comprises: means disposed in the central channel portion and interconnecting each of the panels with the others thereof so as to reinforce and stiffen the panels at their inner ends to prevent deflection of the water cross panels and thereby prevent deflection of the outer channel.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4659543
• OSTI ID: 6556195
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
COOLANTS
COOLING
ELONGATION
FASTENERS
FEEDWATER
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL CHANNELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INCIDENCE ANGLE
MODERATORS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTOR CHANNELS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SUBCOOLING
WATER